Tuesday, May 26, 2009

National Closed 2009

Once again the annually National Chess Championship will set to make its date on 30th May - 3rd June 2009. This year it will be staged at DAT Chess Center, 4th Floor Car Park, Kompleks Wilayah Kuala Lumpur.

Who will be crowned this year champion? Since NM title was introduced in 1974, Malaysia has seen so many champions taking the NM title year after year, but only few did lift the Trophy more than once. The most state with the NM title is Pulau Pinang, but I am proud to say Pahang did lift the title through NM Kamal Ariffin Wahidduddin in 1991.

While NWM title was introduced in 1990, as I recall, the tourney was held at International Youth Centre in KL, it was a tough tourney back then when the favourite WIM Audrey Wong lost unexpectedly to second seeded Geraldine Johns Putra, but during the last round Geraldine lost her game, and before that drew with another player. So the first NWM went to WIM Audrey Wong at that time. However there are not many NWM title holder in Malaysia, as we have very few Ladies playing chess and challenging the games to a very exceptional level, but as years passed we seen many girls players are taking interest in Chess, and we may witness new NWM will be crowned in future years to come! Well, I am also proud to say Pahang too produced 2 NWM title holders in the 90s.

But who will be the National Champion this year? Will it be an unexpected result like last year? Or will it be players like Abdullah Che Hassan, or Ismail Ahmad whom almost closed to taste the title, Or perhaps the younger generation like Yeoh Li Tian, whose father was also a National Champs? We can only find out by wednesday 3rd June 2009! For the NWM title, my best bet will be Nur Nabila taking the champion, as at this moment she is consistently making her mark in the local chess scene, but still not forgetting players from Penang, Perak, Kedah who will try their best to steal the title from Nabila..

Below are the details of the National Closed, however if you find it difficult to read, kindly click link Malaysian Chess Federation :